Beverage container shelf management system

ABSTRACT

A gravity feed display rack for supporting and displaying merchandise is provided. The rack has a merchandise channel support structure featuring a number of rods. Inner and outer dividers featuring merchandise supports and longitudinally extending walls are positioned on the rods in a sliding fashion. End portions of the rods feature adjustable latch slots and at least one outer divider features connectors with locking projections that engage the adjustable latch slots of the merchandise channel support structure. As a result, the dividers are located in spaced apart relationship upon the merchandise channel support structure and may be adjusted to accommodate varying sizes of merchandise.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/288,637, filed Nov. 29, 2005, currently pending.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates, generally, to bottle and can shelving systemsand, in particular, to a user configurable shelving system forgravity-feed beverage containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art includes systems for displaying chilled beveragecontainers for ready access to retail customers. One system is shown inU.S. Pat. No. 4,785,945, which issued to Rowse, et al., and which isincorporated herein by reference. The prior art further includes U.S.Pat. No. 5,645,176 which issued to Jay, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,993which issued to Ondrasik.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shelving systemwhich may be configured by the retail business which displays and sellsthe containers or beverages.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bottle orcontainer shelving system which may be reconfigured from the originalarrangement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a containershelving system which may be configured to accommodate a variety ofcontainer sizes, and reconfigured thereafter as desired.

The present invention is a gravity feed display rack for supporting anddisplaying merchandise that includes a merchandise channel supportstructure including a rod. The rod has an adjustable latch slot formedtherein. An inner divider is slidably mounted on the rod of themerchandise channel support structure. The inner divider includes amerchandise support and a longitudinally extending wall. An outerdivider includes a merchandise support, a longitudinally extending walland a connector. The connector is sized to receive the rod of themerchandise channel support structure. The connector has a lockingprojector sized to engage the adjustable latch slot of the rod so thatthe outer divider may be secured in a desired position on the rod of themerchandise channel support structure.

The adjustable latch slot is formed in an end portion of the rod of themerchandise channel support structure. In addition, the adjustable latchslot features a plurality of teeth where the teeth define adjacent,semi-triangular openings in the adjustable latch slot. The lockingprojection is formed on a finger of the connector and is generallytriangular shaped so as to selectively engage the semi-triangularopenings of the adjustable latch slot.

The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention,taken in conjunction with the appended claims and accompanying drawings,provide a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shelf management system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded bottom perspective view of the shelfmanagement system in accordance with the present invention, showing theleft and right outer dividers, and a plurality of inner dividers, and aplurality of rods.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an inner divider and a plurality ofrods.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of FIG. 3, with a rod extending through therod passage of the inner divider.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the right outer divider and a portion ofa plurality of rods, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of the connector of the right outer dividerof FIG. 2.

FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the connector of FIG. 6A taken along line6B-6B.

FIG. 7 is a partial front view of the shelf management system showing anarrow spacer and a wide spacer, in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a narrow spacer, in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the left outer divider inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the left outer divider of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged side view of one of the connectors of the leftouter divider of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the connector of FIG. 11 taken along line12-12.

FIG. 13 is sectional view of the connector of FIG. 11 taken along line13-13.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a portion of one of the rods suitable foruse with the left outer divider and connector of FIGS. 9-13 inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the rod of FIG. 14 taken along line15-15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shelf management system inaccordance with the present invention. A gravity feed display rack 12 isshown. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the rack 12, shown partiallydisassembled. The rack 12 includes a plurality of inner dividers 14, aright outer divider 16 and a left outer divider 18 (see FIG. 2). Theinner dividers 14 include a longitudinally extending wall 20, with aright and left merchandise support 22, 24 extending in oppositedirections from the wall 20. The merchandise supports 22, 24 each havinga longitudinally extending edge 26 (see FIG. 2). The wall 20 splits intotwo diverging curved front walls 28. The inner dividers 14 include aplurality of connectors 30 (see FIG. 2).

The right outer divider 16 includes a longitudinally extending wall 34,with a right merchandise support 36 extending from the wall 34. Themerchandise support 36 having a longitudinally extending edge 40. Thewall 34 merges into a curved front wall 42. The right divider 32includes a plurality of connectors 60 (see also FIGS. 6A and 6B).

FIG. 2 shows the left outer divider 18. The left divider 18 includes alongitudinally extending wall 52, with a left merchandise support 54extending from the wall 52. The merchandise support 54 having alongitudinally extending edge 56. The wall 52 merges into a curved frontwall 58 (FIG. 7). Additional details of the left outer divider 18 arepresented below with reference to FIGS. 9-16B.

FIG. 2 shows the connectors, 30 and 60. Each connector 30 is shown toinclude two depending spaced apart facing connector walls 64 dependingdownwardly (as viewed from FIG. 1) from the merchandise support. Theconnector walls each include a flange 66. FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B show thatthe connectors 60 include a top wall 68, opposing sidewalls 70, a bottomwall 72, and an end wall 74. FIGS. 6A and 6B show the bottom wall 72 ofconnector 60 to include a finger 76, having a locking detent 78. The endwall 74 includes an abutment 80.

FIG. 2 also shows the merchandise channel support structure 82. Themerchandise channel support structure 82 includes a plurality of rods84. The rods 84 include four walls 86, 88, 90 and 92 (see FIG. 4). Thebottom wall 92, as viewed in FIG. 1, includes a latch opening 94 (SeeFIG. 2) at the right end of each rod 84.

As demonstrated in FIG. 1, pairs of dividers 14, 16 and 18 formrespective split merchandise channels 96.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the plurality of rods 84, each rod shown having anopening 94 to receive a detent 78 of the locking flange 76 for securingthe rod in place with respect to the left outer divider at one side, andthe right outer divider at the other side. The plurality of rods willextend through the respective openings or connectors of the inner, leftouter and right outer dividers.

FIG. 4 shows a enlarged view of one inner divider 14 with a rod 84extending through the opening or connector 30. The connector can be seento be formed by a horizontal surface and two opposed parallel facingvertical surfaces or connector walls 64 having a flange 66 at the endfor retaining the rod within the connector 30. The rod extends withinthe connector 30 but not in an interference fit. Rather, the rod isslidable within the connector 30.

FIG. 5 shows a right outer divider 16 having a right or longitudinallyextending outer wall 34 which extends in a forward direction and curvesto provide the curved front wall 42 with lower and upper stops 98. Thedivider further provides a horizontal surface or merchandise support 36and a plurality of openings or connectors 60.

It will be appreciated that when an inner divider is adjacent to theleft outer divider, a channel is formed for a certain container size,for example an eight ounce container. The distance between dividers maybe expanded by the use of adaptors or spacers 100, 102 which may bepositioned between adjacent dividers 14, 16, 18. The spacers 100, 102are shown in FIG. 7 in one embodiment. The spacers include a generallylongitudinally extending support surface 104 having a width. The spacersinclude a plurality of connectors 106 (see FIG. 8) similar to connectors30. The spacers are positioned between adjacent dividers 14, 16 and 18and increase the width between adjacent walls proportional to the widthof the spacer. In one embodiment, two sizes of spacers are anticipated,such as the half inch and one inch length spacers 100, 102 shown in FIG.7.

The left outer divider in an embodiment of the present invention isindicated in general at 18 in FIGS. 9 and 10. As described previouslywith regard to FIG. 2, the left outer divider 18 includes alongitudinally extending wall 52 with a left merchandise support 54extending from the wall 52. The left outer divider also features anumber of connectors indicated at 110 a-110 g.

An enlarged view of connector 110 c of FIGS. 9 and 10, taken from thedirection illustrated by arrow 112 of FIG. 10, is illustrated in FIG.11. Alternative views of the connector 110 c are presented in FIGS. 12and 13. While the details of connector 110 c are described below, itshould be understood that connectors 110 a, 110 b and 110 d-g featurethe same construction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11-13, similar to the connectors 60 of FIGS. 5,6A and 6B, the connector 110 c includes a top wall 114, opposingsidewalls 116 a and 116 b and a bottom wall 118. The connector 110 c,however, does not feature an end wall such as the one illustrated at 74in FIGS. 6A and 6B for connector 60. As illustrated in FIGS. 11-13, thebottom wall 118 of connector 110 c includes a finger 120, having alocking projection 122.

The details of the left end portion 124 of one of the rods 84 suitablefor use with the left outer divider and connector of FIGS. 9-13 isillustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. More specifically, as describedpreviously with regard to FIG. 4, the rod 84 includes four walls 86, 88,90 and 92. The bottom wall 92 includes an adjustable latch slot 126. Asillustrated in FIG. 14, the slot is constructed from teeth 128 thatdefine a series of adjacent semi-triangular shaped openings where eachopening is sized and shaped to receive the locking projection 122 of theconnector 110 c of FIGS. 11-13.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show the left end of rod 84 extending through theconnector 110 c of the left outer divider 18. The rod 84 slides freelywithin the connector 110 c when the locking projection (122 in FIGS.11-13) on the finger 120 of the connector 110 c is not engaging one ofthe openings of adjustable latch slot 126 (FIGS. 14 and 15). Other rods84 engage the other connectors 110 a, 110 b and 110 d-110 g (of FIGS. 9and 10) in the fashion indicated for connector 110 c in FIGS. 16A and16B.

As illustrated in FIG. 16A for connector 110 c, left outer divider 18 isinitially installed on the left ends of the rods 84 so that lockingprojections of the connectors (110 a-110 g) engage the semi-triangularopenings at the distal ends of the rod adjustable latch slots (126 inFIG. 14). The left outer divider 18 may be adjusted inwards by movementin the direction indicated by arrow 130 in FIG. 16A. As the left outerdivider, and thus connector 110 c, travels in the direction of arrow130, the locking projection of the connector (122 of FIGS. 11-13), dueto its triangular shape, forces the teeth 128 (FIG. 14) of theadjustable latch slot to slightly compress so that the locking projectormay travel between the semi-triangular openings of adjustable latchslot. As a result, the left outer divider travels in the direction ofarrow 130 of FIG. 16A in a ratcheting fashion. The left outer dividerthus may be slid to a desired position on rods 84, as indicated in FIG.16B for connector 110 c.

It is to be understood that while the embodiment of the inventiondescribed above features a non-adjustable right outer divider 16 and anadjustable left outer divider 18, the side of the adjustable outerdivider could be reversed or both outer dividers could be adjustable inthe manner described above for left outer divider 18.

It will be appreciated that the retail business will be capable ofassembling a shelving system using the described component parts, toprovide plurality of channels, wherein each channel may be of the samesize or of an assortment of sizes, to accommodate various sizedmerchandise.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

1. A gravity feed display rack for supporting and displayingmerchandise, comprising: a merchandise channel support structureincluding a rod, said rod having an adjustable latch slot formedtherein; an inner divider slidably mounted on the rod of the merchandisechannel support structure, said inner divider including a merchandisesupport and a longitudinally extending wall; and an outer dividerincluding a merchandise support, a longitudinally extending wall and aconnector, said connector sized to receive the rod of the merchandisechannel support structure and having a locking projector sized to engagethe adjustable latch slot of the rod so that the outer divider may besecured in a desired position on the rod of the merchandise channelsupport structure.
 2. The rack of claim 1 wherein the adjustable latchslot is formed in an end portion of the rod of the merchandise channelsupport structure.
 3. The rack of claim 1 wherein the adjustable latchslot features a plurality of teeth.
 4. The rack of claim 3 wherein theteeth define a plurality of adjacent, semi-triangular openings in theadjustable latch slot and the locking projection is generally triangularshaped so as to selectively engage the semi-triangular openings of theadjustable latch slot.
 5. The rack of claim 1 wherein the connectorincludes a finger upon which the locking projection is formed.
 6. Therack of claim 1 wherein said connector and said rod each includes a topwall, opposing side walls and a bottom wall.
 7. A gravity feed displayrack for supporting and displaying merchandise, comprising: amerchandise channel support structure including a rod, said rod havingan adjustable latch slot formed therein; at least one split merchandisechannel, the split channel being adjustable in width, and located uponthe merchandise channel support structure; an outer divider including amerchandise support, a longitudinally extending wall and a connector,said connector sized to receive the rod of the merchandise channelsupport structure and having a locking projector sized to engage theadjustable latch slot of the rod so that the outer divider may besecured in a desired position on the rod of the merchandise channelsupport structure.
 8. The rack of claim 7 wherein the split channelincludes a left wall and a right wall, the walls being adjustable in aspaced apart relationship, and the split channel having a merchandisesupport.
 9. The rack of claim 7 wherein the adjustable latch slot isformed in an end portion of the rod of the merchandise channel supportstructure.
 10. The rack of claim 7 wherein the adjustable latch slotfeatures a plurality of teeth.
 11. The rack of claim 10 wherein theteeth define a plurality of adjacent, semi-triangular openings in theadjustable latch slot and the locking projection is generally triangularshaped so as to selectively engage the semi-triangular openings of theadjustable latch slot.
 12. The rack of claim 7 wherein the connectorincludes a finger upon which the locking projection is formed.
 13. Therack of claim 7 wherein said connector and said rod each includes a topwall, opposing side walls and a bottom wall.
 14. A gravity feed displayrack for supporting and displaying merchandise, comprising: amerchandise channel support structure having an adjustable latch slotformed therein; an inner divider, the inner divider including alongitudinally extending wall and a left merchandise support extendingfrom the wall and in a direction generally at a right angle to the wall,and a right merchandise support extending from the wall and in adirection generally at a right angle to the wall, the at least one innerdiver having a support structure connector that slides along themerchandise channel support structure; and an outer divider including alongitudinally extending wall and a merchandise support extending fromthe wall and in a direction generally at a right angle to the wall, anda support structure connector having a locking projector engaging theadjustable latch slot of the merchandise channel support structure sothat the outer divider may be secured in a desired position on themerchandise channel support structure.
 15. The rack of claim 14 whereinthe adjustable latch slot features a plurality of teeth.
 16. The rack ofclaim 15 wherein the teeth define a plurality of adjacent,semi-triangular openings in the adjustable latch slot and the lockingprojection is generally triangular shaped so as to selectively engagethe semi-triangular openings of the adjustable latch slot.
 17. The rackof claim 14 wherein the outer divider support structure connectorincludes a finger upon which the locking projection is formed.
 18. Therack of claim 14, wherein the dividers may be individually spaced apartto form a particular width between adjacent pairs of dividers, withadjacent merchandise supports forming a corresponding width therebetween and a spacer having a substantially similar corresponding widthis located between the merchandise supports to form a channel slide uponwhich the merchandise is gravity feed.
 19. The rack of claim 18, whereinthe spacers include a plurality of a group of spacers, the spacersincluding a longitudinally extending support surface having a width, thewidth varying among the group of spacers such that the width of a spacerin one group together with the combined width of adjacent merchandisesupports corresponds to the width of specific merchandise, and whereinthe spacers each include releasably support structure connectors. 20.The rack of claim 14, wherein the longitudinally extending walls of theinner divider split into two diverging front walls in a curved manner,and the longitudinally extending walls of the outer divider extend in acurved manner to form a front wall, wherein adjacent pairs of frontwalls are adapted to stop the downward movement of the merchandise.